Fluid-pressure regulator



- (No Medel.)

- G. F. KNOX.. A PLUIDPRESSURE REGULATR. No.596,601. Patented Jan. 4, 1898.

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,l .Jgy 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. KNOX, OE CHIC-AGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNOR OE ONE-HALE To TI-IE OONEECTIONERs MACHINERY AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

FLUID-PRESSURE REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,601, dated January 4, 1898.

Application iled February 26, 189'?. `Serial No. 625,086. (No model.)

To all wwm/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. KNOX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Expansion-Valves for Refrigerating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in valve devices for use in connection with re'- frigerating apparatus of the classemploying anhydrous ammonia or a like refrigerating fluid and located between the liquid-refrigerant supplier and the expansion chamber 01 coil.

rlhe apparatus of which my improved valve device is intended to form one of the details comprises, broadly stated, a mechanical compresser, a condenser, a liquid -refrigerant holder, and an expansion chamber or coil located in the room or compartment to be cooled. The compressor withdraws the return-gas from the expansion-coil, compresses it, and forces it through a condenser, where it is liquefied, into the liquid-holder, whence it is discharged through an expansion-'valve device into't-he expansion-coil to produce the desired refrigerate-ing effect and cool the com'- partment, the latter being a cold-storageor ice-making chamber, receptacle, or the like.

My object is to provide a particularly simple, durable, and sensitive expansion-valve which shall be readily adjustable to any desired pressure and which shall automatically regulate the iow of iiuid from the liquidholder to the expansion chamber or coil to maintain the pressure in the latter substantially uniform. My object is, further, to provide the valve device with governing means actuated by the expansion and contraction of a iiuid thermostatic column in the room or compartment being cooled to influence the action of the valve and therebyincrease or diminish, according to the temperature desired, the standard of pressure in the expansion coil or chamber.

In the drawings, Figure l is a sectional view of my improved valve device, and Fig. 2 an enlarged broken section taken upon line 2 of Fig. 1. f.

The upper and lower compartments are in open communication through one or more channels t. In the lower end of the shell member A is an inlet-opening s, which in practice communicates with a pipe extending from the liquid-refrigerant supplier. Also in the said shell member is an outlet-port r,

which in practice communicates with the expansion'co'il or chamber. At the opening s is a reduced inlet-port s', at its upper end af,- fording a valve-seat s2.

C is a-stem movable through guides q q in the shell member A and through p a guideopening q2 in the stationary diaphragm A4. In the chamber B, below the diaphragm A4 and vrigidly fastened to the stem C, is a disk or plate p of comparatively small diameter, and rigidly secured to the said stem above the diaphragm A4 is a disk or plate n of comparatively large diameter. Fastened to the 'disk p and adjacent under surface of the diaphragm A4 is an annular spring p', formed, preferably, of spun steel and shaped in crosssection like a bellows-fold, as shown. An annular spring n', shaped in cross-section like the spring p, but of larger diameter, is interposed between and connected with the plate or disk fn. and adjacent uppersurface of the diaphragm A4. and diaphragm A4 form two gas-tight compartments intercommunicatin g through openings m in the diaphragm, as shown, and forming together a chamber D, to which extends a port or passage D through one edge of the diaphragm A4. Firmly secured to the upper end. of the stem C to form practically an integral part thereof is a stem member C, bifurcated at its upper end, as shown, and passing through a guide-opening at the top of the chamber B.

In the shell member A4 isa chamber E. IIn the chamber E, in the position shown, is a lug l, upon which a lever Z' is fulcrumed be- The springs p fn', plates p n,

tween its ends. At one-of its ends the lever l carries pivotal links Z2, which are pivotally connected with the bifurcated upper end of the stem member C', as shown in Fig. 2. Pivoted upon the opposite end of the lever Z' is a head or bearing-plate Z3. The upper part of the shell member A3 has an external thread 7c to receive a threaded cap 7c,and it is also internally threaded at 't' to receive the threaded end a" of an invertedA tensioning-cup i2. Confined in the cup 2 and bearing against the bearing-piece Z8 on the lever is a'spring 3. The tension of the spring i3 may be increased by screwing down the tensioning cup i2 and diminished by screwing the cup in the upward direction. Surrounding the cup in the upper part of the shell member A3 is a washer k2, and resting thereon is a packingring 7c3. Fitting upon the packing-ring is a gland or tightening-ring 7a4, which is pressed downward by the cap 7c'. the spring is and more or less of the springs n and p isto expand and resist contraction. Thus the downward pressure of the spring @"3 and the pressure of the spring n' tend to raise the stem C and plates or disks n p and maintain the valved end C2 of the stem away from the seat s2. The pressure of the liquid refrigerantl enteringat s, through the port s', also tends to lift the valve from its seat. The tendency of the spring p may be in the directionof forcing the stem C and attendant parts downward, but the force of the springs t3 fn', supplemented by the fluid -pressure through the-port s', tends to overbalance the resistance of the spring p and hold the valve open for the entrance of refrigerating liquid through the port s. As the liquid enters and expands in the refrigerating coil or chamber it also expands into the chamber B, and, owing to the channel or channels t, exerts pressure against both the plates or disks p and n. When thel pressure in the coil or chamber B rises above a certain predetermined limit, the force against the large area of the plate a is suiiiciently greater than Ithe force against the small area of the plate p to overcome the resistance of the springs i3 'n' and the pressure against the valve to seat the latter. As no fluid will then enter through the por-t s the pressure in the coil and chamber B falls and the valve will open again. 'As there is no stuiling-box at the stem C it moves without friction and is very sensitive. The resistance against closing of the valve may be regulated by turning the cup-piece i2 to increase or diminish the tension ofthe spring i3. Thus if it is desired that a greater p ressure shall exist in the expansion-coil before the closing ofthe valve C the bearing-cup i2 may be screwed downward to increase the tension of the spring. 1f it is desired vthat the valve shall be closed under va lower 'pressure in the expansion-coil, the tensioningcup i2 may be raised to diminish the tension of the spring. Thus the valve device may beregulat'ed with great exactness to m ainexpansion-coil.

The tendency of,

vtermined degree.

tain a substantially uniform pressure in the the cooling-chamber as by the pressure in the expansion-coil.

In my improved valve device it is intended that the port D shall connect with a pipe passing through or located in the coolingchamber, the said pipe and chamber D being filled with a fluid which expands and contracts readily under chan ges of temperature. The fluid forms a thermos'tatic column and should be so regulated in practice by quantity as to expand and exert a desired pressure in the chamber D Vwhenever the temperature of the cooling-chamber rises above a prede- This pressure in the chamber D will exert itself against the inner faces of the plates n p, and, owing tothe difference in area between the plates,it will tend to force the plate 'n upward and open the valve C2. Presurning, for example, that it is desired to maintain a temperature of 30 Fahrenheit in the cooling chamber, the fluid thermostatic column should be so regulated as to hold the valve open whenever the said temperature rises above 30 against a predetermined greater counter-pressure from the expansion-coil, in order that the standard of pressure in the latter for the time being may be raised to exert a desired greater refrigerating effect upon the cooling compartment or chamber.

The disks or plates n p, both secured to the valve-stein, as described7 form together a differential movable diaphragm in the shellchamber which operates to open and close the valve under variations of gas-pressure in the shell-chamber and avoids the use of a stuffingbox. In practice the springs p' n may, if desired, be normally under little or no material tension and operate to hold the valve C2 lightly closed or closed only with sufcient pressure to counterbalance the pressure of the liquid at the port s'. The spring 3 may in practice be tensioned to-hold the valve open with just the desired force which it is intended shall be overcome by the differential pressure-against the movable diaphragm and cause closure of the valve when the pressure in the expansion-coil exceeds a certain normal predetermined stan-dard.

-. The thermostatic regulator feature is not essential to the working of the governingvalve, but when employed it operates merely p movement vunder the pressure from the expansion-coil. As the internal parts of the TOO IIO

valve device, which should be of iron and steel, are exposed only to the refrigerating and thermostatic fluids, to the exclusion of air, the metals are free from all corroding iniluences and will last indefinitely.

While I .prefer to construct my improvements throughout as shown and described, they may be variously modified in the matter of details of constructionV Without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined by the claims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an expansion-Valve for refrigerating apparatus,the combination of a shell or chamber having an inlet-port for the refrigerating liquid and an outlet-port for the gas, avalve, for opening and closing the inlet-port, having a stem in the chamber, a guide for the stem a spring tending normally to hold the valve open, and a dierential movable diaphragm in the chamber carried by the stem and eX- posed on opposite sides to the gas-pressure in the chamber, to move and close the valve against the resistance of the spring under rise of said gas-pressure, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an expansion-valve for refrigerating apparatus,the combination of a shell or chamber having an inlet-port for the refrigerating liquid and an outlet-port for the gas, a valve, for opening and closing the inlet-port, having a stem in the chamber, a guide for the vstem a spring tending normally to hold the valve open, means for adjusting the tension of the spring, and a differential movable diaphragm in the chamber carried by the stem and exposed on opposite sides to the gas-pressure in the chamber, to move and close the valve against the resistance of the spring under rise of said gas-pressure, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an expansion-valve for refrigerating apparatus,the combination of a shell or chamber having au inlet-port for the refrigerating liquid and an outlet-port for the gas, a valve, for openingand closing the inlet-port, having a stem in the chamber, a spring tending normali-y to hold the valve open7 a stationary perforated diaphragm in the chamber having an opening through which the stem moves,

v plates of differential areas on opposite sides of the diaphragm and secured to the stem, andA annular springs connecting the said plates respectively with the diaphragm, and forming with the platesa compartment Within and insulated from the said chamber, the plates forming a differential diaphragm movable under gas-pressure in the chamber Vto close the valve, lsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. -In an expansion-valve for refrigerating apparatus,the combination of a shell or chamber having an inlet-port for the refrigerating .liquid and an outlet-port for the gas, a valve,

for opening and closing the inlet-port, having a stem in the chamber, a spring tending normally to hold the valve open, means for adj usting the tension of the spring, a stationary perforated diaphragm in the chamber having an opening through which the stem moves, plates of differential areas on opposite sides of the diaphragm and secured to the stem,

and annular springs connecting the said' justing the tension of the spring, a stationary perforated diaphragm in the chamber having an opening through which the stem moves, plates of differential areas on opposite sides of the diaphragm and secured to the stem, annular springs connecting the said plates respectively With the diaphragm, and forming with the plates a compartment Within and insulated from the said chamber, the plates forming a differential diaphragm movable under gas-pressure in the chamber to close the valve, and a passage extending from said inner compartment to the outside of the shell for connection with a fluid thermostatic column, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE F. KNOX. In presence 0f'- R. T. SPENCER, J. H. LEE.

IOO 

